Ford’s President of the Americas, Mark Fields tells Automotive News [sub] that production of its full sized SUV’s are being ramped up as demand has unexpectedly outstripped dwindling inventories. Due to sales of the Ford Expedition rising 45 percent in December and the Lincoln Navigator jumping 60 percent, Ford see this as a good opportunity to take advantage of this new customer confidence. Fields didn’t disclose details about the production bump, but given long term trends in full-sized sales and oil prices, we’re thinking it shouldn’t be too dramatic.

Navigator sales rose 60 percent in December to 1,758 units, but dropped 45.7 percent over 2009 at 8,057 units. Similarly, the Expedition’s 45 percent bump in December flies in the face of a 2009 total of 31,655, down 42.6 percent from 2008. Not a great indication of stunning success in 2010, all things considered.

On the other hand, Ford’s Kentucky Truck Plant, where Expedition and Navigator are built since being transferred from Wayne, was designed for maximum flexibility, so it shouldn’t be too hard for Ford to turn off the supply of mega-utes once inventories are back up to comfortably bloated levels.

My Uncle bought one of the new model Navigators. I must say, I love it more than the 2004 model. Its got more interior space and looks better inside. But all these trucks days are OVER. I rarely see these beasts on the road anymore.

We hadn’t been selling many Expeditions or Navigators for a while, but for whatever reason, over about the last six months, we have had demand surge for both. I’ve had more customers come in to test drive (and buy) Expeditions and Navigators over the past few months than I had the entire year before.

It’s also given me time to really learn to appreciate these huge beasts again. Taking in plenty of Yukahoburlade trade-ins makes me wonder how GM manages to sell more of those than Ford does Expeditions and Navigators. I suppose you can’t argue the draw of a more powerful engine, but now that Ford has the 6.2 liter V8, which I’m sure will end up in the Expedition and Navigator come the next refresh, there will be absolutely no area in which GMs vehicles outperform them, as they already easily win on interior quality, ride quality, interior ergonomics, capability, technology, and features.

I don’t think forgetting is the reason behind this. In fact, I’d venture to say that the public remembers how shitty vehicles get every time a new set of fuel regulations come out. Can’t say I blame them. $4 dollars a gallon might corral most of the sheople into under sized/powered vehicles, but some of us (myself included) wouldn’t do it if gas was $10 a gallon. Come to think of it, $4 would help bring the price of vehicles I like down enough so I could get something REALLY obnoxious. (Hummer here I come!)

“there will be absolutely no area in which GMs vehicles outperform them, as they already easily win on interior quality, ride quality, interior ergonomics, capability, technology, and features”

Well that’s your opinion and not surpring considering that’s what you sell. So people trade in their ‘burbs and Tahoes to buy your Furds. Big deal, I’ll bet I can find a Furd on the Chevy/GMC used car lot down the street. Last time I was at my Chevy dealership they had some BMW SUV thing that someone dumped for a Tahoe. The Suburban and Tahoe crush the Expedition in total sales simply because for most people they are the better vehicle.